The Night Face Up by Julio Cortázar - Summary and Analysis

These flashcards cover key themes, characters, and plot details from the short story 'The Night Face Up' by Julio Cortázar.

What is the main character's experience in the story?

He goes back and forth between a real world and a dream world, experiencing a motorcycle crash and dreaming of being a prisoner of the Aztecs.

How are the two worlds in 'The Night Face Up' connected?

The character is lying on his back, or 'face up,' in both the real world and the dream world.

What role does human sacrifice have in the man's dream?

It reflects the brutal practices of the Aztecs, where victims, often prisoners of war or slaves, are sacrificed to please the gods.

What happens when the man tries to avoid hitting the woman on the motorcycle?

He loses control of the motorcycle, crashes, and falls into unconsciousness.

What does the man taste after the motorcycle crash?

He tastes blood and feels pain in his right arm.

What is the man's condition when he arrives at the hospital?

He feels nauseous, has a broken arm in a plaster cast, and is experiencing a fever.

What does the man dream about while in the hospital?

He dreams of being hunted by Aztec warriors and trying to escape the dangers of that world.

How does the man's fever affect his perception of reality?

It makes everything around him seem strange, blurring the line between his dream world and reality.

What significant event happens after the man is captured in his dream?

He is untied by Aztec priests' helpers and is being carried to be sacrificed.

What realization does the man have at the end of the story?

He realizes that the motorcycle crash and the hospital were part of a dream before dying, while his experience as a prisoner was his true fate.